Physics Department

Car Wings

Car Wings

Racing cars have many shapes and features. One of these is the addition of a fixed horizontal wing above the back end of the car. This is said to give the car an advantage in a race. What would that advantage be?

A. The advantage is that the wing lifts the car, making it easier to accelerate to high speeds.

B. The advantage is that the wing's effect is to push down on the car, giving it better traction, which is an advantage in accelerating and rounding corners.

C. The advantage is that the wing lifts the car, making it lighter and increasing the miles per gallon, gas efficiency, which is an advantage in a race..